Something found in those who don't get enough sun

[flowergarden]

I've been being tested recently for low blood calcium levels. There are several things that can cause this, so I was sent to an endocrinologist.

What was discovered is that I have low vitamin D levels. I take a little bit more than the recommended amount daily. Curious.

The doc., who is from a sunnier clime, said they are finding that a number of people living in my area, which is known for its lack of sun (to put it nicely), seem to have the inability to use all the vitamin D in their diets. When I told him that I avoid sun he said he was not surprised that I have this problem. Interestingly, he said that the vit. D added to milk does not help raise levels in the body.

I'm wondering if it might not be wise for lupies to occasionally ask to have their vit. D levels checked, as we tend to avoid the sun. Low levels of the vitamin can create low levels of calcium. When this happens, calcium is taken from the bones to maintain the proper balance in the blood. If the correct balance is not maintained, muscles (e.g. the heart) and nerves do not work correctly.

From my college nutrition studies, I know that it is dangerous to take more of the vitamin than is recommended unless a doctor tells you to. Vitamin D is fat-soluble so can build up in the body to toxic levels.

This is just something I thought I'd pass on. I'd be interested if anybody else has had this problem. :flowers:

[ReneeNZ]

Goodness - that was timely for me flowergarden!

I haven't posted for weeks because the rheumy I was referred to says that as I have only 'mild' lupus symtoms he cannot see me for many months (up to a year). I felt I might be a bit of a fraud posting here so I thought I would desist until such time as I might know more. However - this specialist did tell my GP to get an x-ray of spine, hips, pelvis etc - and more bloods. X ray results not back yet but apparently one of the tests was for Vitamin D - and yes, I am 'very deficient' in this vitamin - have an appt to see my GP about it in a couple of days. However - I have a high level of calcium??? Go figure :unsure: Antiphospholipids still 'elevated'.

Strange thing is that, as I have no skin involvement, I do not avoid the sun - but I don't sunbathe per se which I did with a vengeance when I was young and in the last two years I have had a basal skin carcinoma removed from my leg - caused of course by too much sun baking in past years.

It gets confusing doesn't it??? Can low Vitamin D levels be something of a symptom of lupus???????????

Incidentally, depending on the results of my x-rays - which my doctor thinks will reveal my problems as being caused by osteo-arthritis and nothing to do with autoimmune diseases - she will refer me to a rheumy privately instead of through our public health system!!

I still read everything here a couple of times a day though I rarely post now - so thanks for listening/reading to anyone out there :flowers: :flowers:

Be as well as you can people :love:

[flowergarden]

Renee, the vit. D-calcium system is complicated, I understand. Vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb calcium in the first place. Then a certain amount of it is needed in the blood to help maintain the proper level of calcium in the blood also. When the Ca levels go down, the parathyroid glands produce more PTH hormone, causing the bones to release more Ca ito the blood. Apparently the blood Ca levels have to remain in a very narrow range to allow the muscles (including the heart) and nerves to work properly.

In my case, with low levels of vit. D, my Ca stayed low. Also, my PTH was high, showing that my body was trying to raise the Ca. We're hoping that by raising the vit. D it will take care of the problem.

If you have low levels of vit. D and high Ca levels, you probably have something very different going on. You can read up on hypercalcemia on the internet for more information.

Good luck! I hope it goes well for you. :flowers:

[Lily]

Hi Sue,

Well that doesnt quite make any sense in my former situation then because I had a vitamin D level of 2 :o when the lowest normal here in Australia was 32 and my calcium at the time was fine?

It's a complicated equation, all manner of body systems are affected and also involved in processing vitamin D, the skin, the gut, the liver and not least of all the kidneys which convert it to its active form. Then the master player the parathyroid gland, I imagine any glitch in these systems could bring about a problem.

For those of you not allergic to fish & eggs then having a reasonable intake of them is a very good idea, they are rich in vitamin D. And for my calcium I drink plenty of low fat milk/yoghurt. There are only so many meds and things my stomach and liver can process :lol: My vitamin D level is fine now and I still cant eat fish or eggs,still get very little sun exposure, but it's obviously enough and my calcium is fine. Even the tiniest amount of regaular sun exposure is enough for us to get our quota, not sure on the figures and no time to look it up now, but I think most of us would qualify despite the precautions we have to take. That's providing the other body systems are working ok to absorb and process vitamin D and we have an adequate diet.

I may live in Australia but our winters where I am are often dark and dismal with not a great deal of sun. But what we get in summer is stored and comes into play in the winter months I imagine. If you are exhibiting signs and symptoms which could be Vitamin D deficiency or suspect it then its a simple test your GP can run but the blood sample does require special treatment by the pathologist to ensure an acccurate reading. Then if a deficiency is found they need to investigate further to try and find the reason, there could be a simple enough explanation or a much more complicated one. However in my case I was on supplements for 6 months and the level came back fine and has stayed that way ever since. My doc didnt want me on supplements forever because whatever was wrong had corrected itself and overdosing on vitamin D is toxic.


love
Lily

[flowergarden]

OK, Lily. There's now a monkey wrench in my doc's. talk. Thanks! ;) He DID say that I'm to take this new kind of vit. D and we'll see what happens. I didn't think to ask what the levels were. Now you've got my curiosity up. It may be that it's not a problem with my intake.

Did you have to do anything to get your vit D. level back up?

Actually, I think I'm just a little weird all around. That should explain everything about me. ;)

[Lily]

Sorry I must have been adding to my post when you had already replied Sue!

I had to take supplements of in my case D2 I think for 6 months Sue :) There are two types D2 & D3, but whatever his reasoning it worked for me. And I havent had to take it since.

I'm thinking especially people with stomach problems and an autoimmune component may have trouble absorbing Vitamin D from food. But honestly it's a pretty rare deficiency to have. My doc said he'd only seen it in Saudi Arabia when he spent some time there doctoring! He'd never come across it in an Aussie before :) And he's had plenty of patient experience working out of a Uni based hospital and dealing with autoimmune predominantly. We never did find out why I was deficient, it will remain a mystery but its ok now.

love
Lily

[raggedyann1]

Hello all,

I knew when Lily said it takes very little sun to make enough Vitamin D that I had also heard that. The statement below came from the link provided.

Ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen is usually sufficient to provide adequate vitamin D [14]. It is very important for individuals with limited sun exposure to include good sources of vitamin D in their diet.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp#h2

Karen

[Clare.T]

I just recently asked my doctor about Vitamin D since I am one of those who is out of doors minimally. Which part of sunshine concerns vitamin D ?

He says that the amount on a daily multi vitamin is ample supplement.

I think that my calcium supplement had vit D in it as well as magnesium ( ???)
I need to start taking it again.

Nordic types are at much less risk than dark skinnned people - our metabolism has adapted to shortage of sunshine

I say dark skinned people, but in fact all I have read about is people of African descent, so maybe it is actually racial.

Immigrants from Africa into the UK can suffer rickets a disease that doesn't occur in the native population these days as far as I know. For many Africans dairy products don't feature in their traditional diet. My granddaughter is mixed race one of her doctors did mention the need for adequate dietary vitamin D

For some of us sun exposure is a far greater risk.

Clare

[flowergarden]

This doc said that this finding of vit. D deficiency is showing up particularly in my area, Seattle, which is known for its clouds and rain ("we have two seasons: cloudy and cloudier"). For some reason we aren't absorbing the dietary vit. D the way we should. I have been taking plenty of Calcium and vit. D so I shouldn't be deficient.

I bought the new brand today (my stomach didn't like it, though). I'll give it a try and see what happens when I go back at the end of July. I do have both stomach problems and an auto-immune disorder, so that could well be it. More later!